Download Islam and the Islamic World

Islam and the Islamic World
Muhammad’s Religion
(570-632)
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Muhammad
Was an orphan
He married a wealthy
widow
Became a social activist
Opposed materialism in
Meccan Society
At 40 had revelations was
visited by the angel
Gabriel
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Angel brought word of God
Collected in a sacred book
Qur'an (Reciting)
A call to Arabs to submit to
God’s will as revealed
through the “prophet”
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This Religion is called
Islam and its followers
are called Muslims
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Both indicate submission
and surrender
His message was not new
but final and definitive
He was the last of the
prophets that God would
send
A monotheistic and Theocentric religion (like
Judaism)
Continued…
AD –Muhammad and followers made to
flee Mecca
 622
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After turning it into a trade center they fled to
Medina
Marks the beginning of the Islamic migration
AD – His army is powerful enough to
persuade Mecca to submit to his authority
 624
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Cleansed the Kaaba of idols and made it an
Islamic shrine.
Rules
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Be honest and modest in dealings and behavior
Be unquestionably loyal to the Islamic Community
Abstain from pork and alcohol
Pray facing Mecca five times a day
Contribute to support the poor and needy
Fast during daylight hours for one month each year
Make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba at least once in your
life
Muslim Marriages
Muslim men could have four wives
*Treat them all justly and equally
*Could have as many concubines as they wished
*Could divorce with declaration of intent
*Wife could also initiate but procedure more involved
*Only a husband could see her face
Islamic Diversity
 Successful
in unifying Arab tribes
 Disputes on who was going to succeed in
Muhammad’s authority
 Disputes on doctrinal issues (was it only for Arabs?)
 Kharijutes: Ali leader wanted to exclude all but
rigorous and pure
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Was assassinated by a member
 Shi
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`a: “Partisans of Ali” was more influential
A true Imam (ruler) should make decisions
 Sunnis:
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Followers of Sunna (tradition)
Put loyalty first
Reject exclusionism and purism of the Kharijutes and
Shi`a.
Islamic Empires
 Muhammad’s
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1st three successors
Caliphs: Abu Bakr (632-634)
Umar (634-644)
Uthaman (644-656)
 Built
a strong empire stretching from Spain to India
 750 – Capitol moved from Mecca to Damascus in a
civil war
 Established Baghdad as a major Islamic city
 Arabs gained Christian converts in N. Africa and Spain.
 Charles Martel—Ruler of the Franks
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Defeated a Arab raiding party at Portieres
This ended Arab attempts to enter Europe by way of Spain
 Leo
III ---Kept Muslims out of Eastern Europe at
Constantinople
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Muslim Expansion again threatened when Constantinople fell to
the Ottoman Turks Europe.
Western Debt to Islamic Culture
 Christians
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were hostile to Muslims
But learned about many technologies from them
 Made
philosophy and science as well as works of
Greeks available to West, in Latin translation.
 Created manuals for childbirth and child care that
many western mid-wives used
 Multilingual Jewish scholars were able to create
bridges